There are more mental health issues than anxiety and depression

[IamaRevenant]

AIBU here? I've just left hospital. I desperately want to just be gone because it appears that there's no help for people like me. I do not have depression or anxiety, I have visions and voices and my brain just doesn't function in the way it should. But all of the doctors and nurses just kept going on about anxiety and depression. Where is the help for someone like me? I need something more than counselling! They gave me referrals and leaflets but they're all about the same. I don't know if I have schizophrenia, or maybe some kind of disorded personality. I even went to a specialist retreat last year and still it was just depression, anxiety, repeat on loop! I have neither! This is just a whinge but AIBU to think that mental health services are really poor in this country (UK)?

Hi IamaRevenant , sorry you are finding it hard to get the help you need. Have the healthcare people that you have seen explained why they are viewing your difficulties solely in the framework of anxiety and depression when you are having psychotic symptoms too?
Psychosis is extremely common and most mental health professionals would be picking up on these symptoms too.
Perhaps they feel that anxiety is a very significant trigger for your psychotic symptoms and that is why they are emphasising it?

I’m sorry to hear about your symptoms mental health can be really scary when you’re in the depths of it.
people who tend to be in psychosis often don’t realise in the moment.
a family member of mine suffered with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder. Often imagined things that weren’t real but could not Recognise this and became her reality.
all I can advice is reach out to your gp for your local mental health support for an assessment. Xx

Should NC for this but I cba. I’m sorry you’re having a shit time OP, I completely sympathise. I have DID and it appears there’s no one in the NHS who can treat me. I need long-term therapy and there’s literally no one in my local trust with the training or experience to do it and they won’t refer out of area. Spent some time in hospital too and other than once a week with a psychologist I had no input, felt like I was there for babysitting not treatment.

But I’m mostly posting because your OP rang some bells. I hear voices, but it’s my alters not psychosis. And often my flashbacks feel like visions, but they’re showing me things that have already happened (some of which the alter in “front” might not be aware of/recognise). It’s not well recognized/diagnosed, but that feeling of just being “wrong” really spoke to me. Maybe have a google if you’re feeling up to it and see whether anything rings a bell?

Thank you. I don't have anxiety but I do have cptsd (diagnosed). But it's really not that that's the issue, my brain is just a constant mess of disorded thinking. I felt completely unheard at the hospital, I tried to explain and I could see the doctor's kind of...glaze over? And then just talking about anxiety and depression. Again.

I guess I'll have to go private.

I've just googled and yes, this really resonates! I'm sorry you've been through this. I'm going to have more of a read. If you don't mind me asking, how did you get your diagnosis?

I have bipolar - misdiagnosed for years as depression. Meant my cycles were still not under control so semi highs (I’m type 2 so don’t get euphoric) would cause massive depressive episodes. I ended up going to a private psychiatrist to get my diagnosis and treatment plan. In almost a decade no one had put together the depressive episodes

It's really frustrating isn't it? I've been misdiagnosed for about a decade I think - I still take meds because I have insomnia and they help me sleep. But they don't help the voices! The only doctor who has ever been slightly helpful told me I had psychosis and possible dual personalities (which I think is now called DID as a previous poster mentioned). But there's been no follow up at all. Just the same old 'signposting' to the same forms of support for anxiety and depression...

I think I'm going to go private but I already did that and it cost 11 grand, and here I am, still the same and still totally not right in the head. Could you tell me who you went with for private? Because the ones I've seen have been a bit rubbish tbh. Pm me if you don't want to post identifying info!

I went via Bupa. Looked at all of the consultants biographies in a reasonably local area and went that way. I made sure their interest areas and specialties matched closest to my symptoms rather than ‘just’ a psychiatrist. I can’t remember the name of mine but he had lectured and written about illnesses with depressive episodes.

Do a decent amount of research and I’m sure you’ll find the right one

Don’t mind you asking at all. I was lucky enough to land with a superb psychologist after the birth of my first DC, who wasn’t a specialist but had enough experience and curiosity to realise that she wasn’t just sitting in a room with a straightforward case of PTSD, and she then liaised with the psychiatrist to get the formal diagnosis. She eventually gave up trying to treat me, but still did more than anyone else has ever done to help me understand WTF goes on inside my head.

FWIW I also have a previous psychosis diagnosis that has now been overwritten with the “real” problem, I think it’s really common for this to happen.

I've been on and off antidepressants over the years, being brushed off for being depressed when I know there's more to it. Antidepressants don't touch my symptoms. Doctors don't want to know. Can't afford a private diagnosis so I guess it'll always be a mystery to me

I was just like you from the age of 14 when I was first prescribed anti depressants by a therapist. I'm 52 now.

Almost 3yrs ago, I started seeing things and hearing voices. A doctor referred me to EIP (early intervention in psychosis) and my life changed. I've had therapy that actually helped and a proper diagnosis - psychosis, EUPD, CPTSD, GAD and I also had an ADHD assessment which I'm now medicated for (along with everything else!).

Until EIP, I was just diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

For what you've said, EIP may be a great help for you, too. Don't give up. Took me 35yrs to finally get the right help/diagnosis, but it's happened!